Amy p.o.v.

The tall boy turns his head away and the coach orders the rest of the players to carry on with the game. I hurry across the grounds to the next block. I smile at the thought of the handsome boy. How I wish....NO NO what am I thinking. I have never let anyone close to me.

The only people that are the least bit close to me are my two best friends. And they have absolutely no idea who I really am. To be honest...I'm afraid to let anyone into my life. I'm afraid to lose the people I love.

As I walk away, I feel the familliar cold chills run down my spine. I turn around expecting someone to be there. But... no one is there. Why do I always feel as if someone is watching me?

I jump as the cell phone in my front pocket vibrates.

Layla: No Pleeeeeez...I miss u. Look u promised yesterday...Sabby and I have a surprise planned for u.
I walk faster and type on the screen.

Amy: look, I don't think I'll be able to come to campus the whole week . I got it bad this time.

Layla: Damn these pathogenic microorganisms. :(

Amy: Yeah! Okay see u nxt week. Cheers....Mom is calling.

Layla: Are you pulling my leg?

Amy: what do you mean?

Layla: u r lying to me.

Amy: Don't know whaaat you r talking about.

Layla: Ur mom is never at home at this time....she is supposed to be at school.

Amy: Yeah well she stayed at home to look after me.

Layla: Quit being such a liar.

Amy: What's wrong with you? Why won't you believe me?

Layla: Coz I can see you.

I gasp , lift my head from the screen and walk straight into Layla. We stare at each other. She frowns and her eyes narrows into thin slits. I swallow the ball of saliva in my mouth and let out a smile.

"Heyy bestie...ssup?", I start. "You nut case...", she begins and a chuckle escapes from my throat at how ridiculous she sounds. She stops and bursts out laughing as well. "Uggh...", she says and we walk towards our physiology lecture."so...surprise huh!", I ask. "Please don't tell Sabby that I gave the game away.", she begs.

"Ok ok...I won't....", I reply. She relaxes. "On one condition", I add. " I should have seen that coming.",she states. "What?", she demands. I twirl the ends of my hair strands. "What is this surprise you guys planned?", I ask curiously.

" Ehh... since you haven't noticed...It's a SURPRISE...If I told you what it were it wouldn't remain a surprise. You will just have to wait." I smile and pinch her cheeks. "You are sooo cute." "Aauuww ", she complains. We carry on walking.

I have always admired her. She is one courageous young woman. She is the "If she doesn't like something she'll tell you on ur face" types. But that is what I like about her.

I know her from the time I moved to Durban 7 years ago.
I was very traumatised at the time. I would sit alone in school and put my head down as I walked.

When people tried to talk to me I would snap at them. I didn't have any friends. People were either too embarrassed or too scared to be my friend. She was the first one to actually break that wall around me.

The first time I looked at her, I had the feeling that I could trust her. She has that aura. She was the one that told me that I could not make friends because I was just driving them away myself.

################################

" Want some popcorn?", Sabrina asks as she shakes the box under the desk towards me. I shove my hand in the box and when Mr Wellington turns towards the projected slides on the screen, I shove the popcorn into my mouth. I pass the box to Layla on my left and she does the same.

We slowly share, chew and swallow the buttery popcorn until only the seeds remain at the bottom of the box. We groan in unison when we realise that the popcorn is all in our stomachs.

"Yes...Did u say something miss Brown?", Mr Wellington's voice echoes over my head. "Huh?", my squeaky voice asks. I feel everyone's eyes on me. I hear Sabby crumple the popcorn box behind me. "What do you understand by what is on the screen?", he asks. I stare at him.

He folds his arms and waits for an answer. "Uhhh.", Suddenly someone laughs from behind me. This angers him. He turns to a carrot haired boy at the back. "So ....do you find this funny?" He questions carrot hair.

"Why don't you answer the question?" The boy remains quiet. "I said answer the question." The boy puts his head down. "Sssorry."

Mr Wellington shakes his head and gets back to the lecture. I am relieved. I'm glad I got saved.

I smile to myself. Heyy, what do you know Amanda Brown. Your life is pretty normal. It is pretty normal.

Just then, I get the chills again. I turn around to the back of the lecture hall. Did I just see a shadow behind the door?

I wait for a while. Nothing.

NORMAL??

Is it really?